I Watched My Mother Kneel For His Family, Then I Ended His Chapter 12

I Watched My Mother Kneel For His Family, Then I Ended His Chapter 12

Two years later, in the autumn, ELYN was selected as one of the top ten breakout designer brands in the

country.

The awards ceremony was held in New York. My mother stood before the hotel’s full-length mirror, wearing an iris-blue gown had designed for her by hand, turning around to admire it.

“Isn’t this a bit much… I’m just there to watch you accept the award…”

“You’re a co-founder of the brand-the half of ELYN. If you’re not up there, who is?”

She looked about to cry again, but I stopped her.

“Don’t cry. There won’t be time to touch up your makeup.”

At the ceremony, when I went up to accept the award, there were several hundred people in the audience.

Industry leaders, journalists, fellow designers.

The spotlights hit me, and the microphone was handed over.

I didn’t say much.

“Thank you to everyone who supported me along the way.”

“The name of this brand is ELYN, combining my mother’s name and my own.”

“Two years ago, I had nothing. I only had her.”

“Now, I want to say…” I looked down at my mother, who was sitting in the second row, and gave her a small

smile. “Mom, from now on, it’s my turn to protect you.”

My mother broke down weeping in her seat, while Celia beside her couldn’t hand over tissues fast enough.

Thunderous applause echoed throughout the venue.

When I stepped off the stage after receiving the award, I ran into someone unexpected in the lounge area.

Cynthia pulled me aside and whispered, “Did you see that table—the one from Guzman Group?”

I followed her gaze.

Seated at a table in the corner was Rowley.

He’d lost weight. His hair had gone completely gray.

He sat there alone, his glass filled to the brim, with no one to offer a toast.

Word was that Guzman Group’s revenue had plummeted again this year. Their womenswear division was

_virtually scrapped, leaving only menswear and accessories barely keeping them afloat.

Frederica had divorced him and taken a settlement abroad. Dillen had been stripped of his title entirely, left with a meaningless nominal role, utterly cut off from company affairs

The once-unshakable Guzman empire of two years ago had dissolved into scattered pieces.

Rowley scanned the room. When his gaze passed over me, it paused.

I met his eyes-just briefly.

Then I withdrew my gaze and took my mother’s hand.

“Mom, let’s go. Celia reserved a table at a restaurant for our celebration.”

My mother nodded and linked her arm through mine as we walked out.

When we reached the doors, I turned back for one last glance.

Inside the brilliantly lit banquet hall, the elderly man in the corner was shuffling out.

His steps wavered. There were no bodyguards by his side anymore.

I turned back around.

Outside, the night breeze felt crisp and cool, the city lights illuminating the dark one by one.

My mother leaned gently against my shoulder, humming a melody slightly out of tune.

Up ahead, Celia waved at us. “Hurry up! I’m starving!”

I picked up my pace.

Everything behind me along with those five years of silence, endurance, and pain-was left far behind that closing door.

As the wind brushed past us, I heard my mother speak softly.

“Elva, the best thing I ever did in my life was having you.”

I didn’t say a word.

I just held her hand a little tighter.